Power can opener



Jan. 15, 1952 I A. B. REED 2,582,504

POWER CAN OPENER Filed Jan. 9, 1951 4 .R\ 0" 17 ,ea 24 Z 11 Z0 12 l 19 rIll ve /0% wider 12 fleed Patented Jan. 15, 1952 POWER CAN OPENERAdelber-t B.'Reed, Newton Center, Mass.

Application January 9, 1951(Serial No. 205,150

6 Glaim's.

This invention relates to powered can'openers particularly of the typehaving rotary feeding and cutting wheels and has for one object toprovide a can opener of light construction which may be operated withone hand leaving the other hand free to advance and set aside the cansand dispose of the tops.

Other objects are to simplify the construction of the can so as toeliminate the cans and bevel gears usually required for bringing theaforesaid'cutting and feedin wheels into operation, to adjust theposition and speedof the cutting wheel as scams or other irregularitiesare encountered, and to render these wheels more accessible for cleaningand sterilization.

In one aspect the present invention comprises a motor having a casingfrom which a rotating drive shaft extends forwardly, a toothed drivewheel for engagement under the lip of a can carried by the drive shaft,a handle for supporting the casing disposed longitudinally thereof, anda lever carrying a cutting disk for causing the cutting disk to piercethe top of the can and move into operative relation with the drivewheel, the lever being pivotally mounted on the casing so as to extendbetween the casin and the handle and afford one-handed operation inwhich the resiliency of the operators hand yieldingly holds the disk andwheel in operative relation. Preferably the lever is pivoted at a pointbelow the axis of the cutting disk. If the disk is mounted coaxiallywith the lever, the pivot will also be below the lever.

Ina more specific aspect the lever comprises a straight 'rod anchored ina block which is pivotally supported on the casing below the axis of therod.

In another aspect a leaf spring support member extends forwardly of theblock andcarr-ies a-mag-net movable with the rod and block into contactwith the top of the can to be opened. Preferably the support member hasa downwardly directed extension adapted to bear on the forward face ofthe cutting disk to hold the cutting disk on the forward end of theabovementioned lever.

"In still another aspect a switch for starting the motor is located atthe forward endof the above-mentioned handle for actuation by theoperators thumb.

For the purpose of illustration a typical embodiment of the invention isillustratedin the accompanying drawings in which Figs. "1 and 2 are sideelevations of a can op n r;

Fig. '3 is a planview;

Fig. 4 is 'an end elevation, parts being omi-tted; and

Fig. 5 is an enlarged section on 1ine-55--o'f Fig. 1.

Atypical embodiment shown 'for the purpose of illustration in thedrawings includes generally cylindrical housing portions 1 and 2covering respectively an electric motorand reduction gears. Extendingforwardly from the rear endof the motor casing I is a handle 3 :oftubula-r material which encloses wires connected between the motor and a-push-button switchl at the forward upturned end of the handle. Theforward end of the handle 3 is supported by a strap 16 fixed to thereduction gear housing 2. Extending forwardly from the *gear housing 2is a shaft 6 driven by 'the'motorwhich carries at its end a tootheddrive wheel 1. At the forward end of the gear housing 2 is a forwardlyextending shoulder 5 against which a yoke 8 is fixed by a knurled nutl5. Supported in the yoke by a pivot pin It) is a block 9. A straightcylindrical rod H is anchored in the block 8 by threads at its forwardend which are engaged in the block, and by a knurled nut 23 lockedagainst the block. The rod H carries at its forward end a compositewheel including a cutting disk l3 and a positioning disk l2. The wheelI2-|3 fits on a portion 29 of reduced diameter at the forward end of therod (Figs. Band 4). A stop M on the top of the motor casing l holds theafter end of the rod spaced from the casing l.

Pivoted on the top of the block 9 is a "forwardly extending leaf springI! carrying "at its forward end a permanent magnet 18 having a flatunder face IS. The magnet is loosely suspendedfrom the leaf spring by ascrew 26 which permits angular adjustment of the magnet face. The leafspring is folded at its forward end to provide a downwardly directedextension 2! having bifurcations-28 at the lower end thereof. Thebifurcations 28 straddle the reduced portion 29 at theforward end of therod all to lock the extension 2'! in a position in which it yieldinglbears on the forward face of the cutting disk is and retains the cuttingand positioning disk on the'rod ll. Owing to the resiliency-of thesupport I1 the bifurcated endof the extension 21 may be sprung away fromthe reduced portion 29, to allow the support l1, magnet-l8 and extension2'! to be swung to the position shown in Fig. 3., so that the cuttingand .positioning disk may be readily slipped off the rod Ii forcleaning. To facilitate swinging the support 2! to one side, the screw24 pivoting the support to the block 9, is set in the block with aslight clearance between the support and the screw. This clearance istaken up when the support is sprung to lock the bifurcations on thereduced portion 29 of the rod II.

According to the present invention the rod H acts as a lever forswinging the cutting disk i3 downwardly into operative relation with themotor driven toothed wheel 7. By arranging the pivot l ofi the axis ofthe lever a very simple attachment of the cutting wheel coaxially withthe rod II is permitted. The block 9 is pivoted below the axis of therod H and the cutting disk I3 in order to bring the pivot point of thecutting disk i3 closer to the axis of the drive wheel 1, so that as thecutting disk is swung into operative relation with the drive wheel thecutting disk engages the top of the can C at right angles to the top anddoes not have a component of rearward motion tending to thrust itforward. The cutting and positioning disks may therefore be held on thered by the moderate pressure exerted by the leaf spring support I! andits extension 21, there being no tendency for it to thrust against thebifurcated end 28 of the extension when it is caused to pierce the topof the can.

As shown in Fig. 2 the can opener is adapted to be supported in one handby the handle 3. Normally the lever or rod H by its own weight assumes aposition against the stop M as shown in Fig. 1. When it is desired toapply the opener to a can, finger of the hand supporting the opener areinserted through the spacing provided by the stop 14 under the rod H.The toothed wheel I is then positioned under the lip L of a can C, andthe cutting wheel I3 is disposed above the top of the can. The rod H isthen squeezed toward the handle 3 by the fingers and palm of theoperators hand, the thumb being left free to operate the switch 4 at theforward end oi the handle 3. Preferably the motor is started by pressingthe switch 4 before sumcient pressure is applied to cause the cuttingdisk to penetrate the top of the can C. As the cutting disk l3 piercesthe can the positioning disk !2 engages the outside of the lip Lpositively fixing the cutting disk in relation to the lip. The speed ofthe cutting disk is varied according to the'gauge of metal in the can bytightening or loosening the pressure on the rod ll. For example inopening a small can of light gauge, it is desirable to decrease thecutting speed by increasing manual pressure so that the interaction ofthe cutting disk and drive wheel applies a braking action to the motor.

It is apparent that by employing a straight rod disposed between thecasing and the handle an extremely simplified mounting is provided forthe cutting disk. At the same time the natural resiliency of theoperators hand permits the rod to adjust the speed and position of thecutting disk as the cutting disk rides over a seam, dent or otherirregularity in the can and thus prevent damage to the motor or thecutting disk. All the operations of engaging the can, adjusting forirregularities, varying the speed and disengaging the cutting disk andsevered top are reduced by the present invention to a simplemanipulation of the rod l I.

It should be understood that the present disclosure is for the purposeof illustration only and that this invention includes all modificationsand 4 equivalents which fall within the scope of the appended claims.

I claim:

1. A powered can opener comprising a motor having a casing and arotating shaft extending therefrom, a toothed wheel on said shaftdisposed forwardly of the casing for engagement under the lip of thecan, a handle on the casing for manually supporting the casing, a leverpivotally mounted on the casing and extending between the handle and thecasing, and 'a cutting disk rotatively mounted on the forward end of thelever, said disk being movable with the lever in and out of operativejuxtaposition with said wheel, whereby said opener may be applied to acan by squeezing the lever toward the handle with one hand to swing thedisk against the top of the can.

2. A powered can opener comprising a motor having a casing and arotating shaft extending therefrom, a toothed wheel on said shaftdisposed forwardly of the casing for engagement under the lip of thecan, a handle extending longitudinally of the casing for manuallysupporting the casing, a lever pivotally mounted on the casing andextending between the handle and the casing, and a cutting diskrotatively mounted on the forward end of the lever, said disk beingmovable with the lever in and out of operative juxtaposition with saidwheel, and said lever being pivoted to said casing below the axis ofsaid disk, whereby said opener may be applied to a can by squeezing thelever toward the handle with one hand to swing the disk against the topof the can.

3. A powered can opener comprising a motor having a casing and arotating shaft extending therefrom, a toothed wheel on said shaftdisposed forwardly of the casing for engagement under the lip of thecan, a handle extending longitudinally of the casing for manuallysupporting the casing, a yoke fixed to said casing and extendingupwardly therefrom, a block pivotally mounted in the yoke, a straightrod fixed in said block to extend between the handle and the casing, anda cutting disk rotatively mounted on the forward end of the rod, saiddisk being movable with the rod in and out of operative juxtapositionwith said wheel, said block being pivoted to said yoke below the lever,whereby said opener may be applied to a can by squeezing the levertoward the handle with one hand to swing the disk against the top of thecan.

4. A powered can opener comprising a motor having a casing and arotating shaft extendingtherefrom, a toothed wheel on said shaftdisposed forwardly of the casing for engagement under the lip of thecan, a handle on the casing for manually supporting the casing, a leverpivotally mounted on the casing and extending between the handle and thecasing, a cutting disk rotatively mounted on the forward end of thelever, said disk being movable with the lever in and out of operativejuxtaposition with said wheel, said lever being pivoted on the casing ata point below the axis of said disk, a support member extendingforwardly of the cutting disk and mounted to move with said lever, adownwardly directed extension from said member, the lower end of saidmember having an operative position in which it resiliently bears on theforward face of the cutting disk to hold the cutting disk on the shaft,and said member being pivotally mounted to swing the extension from itsoperative position out of line with the cutting disk, whereby thecutting disk may be removed for cleaning.

5. A powered can opener comprising a motor having a casing and arotating shaft extending therefrom, a toothed wheel on said shaftdisposed forwardly of the casing for engagement under the lip of thecan, a handle on the casing for manually supporting the casing, a leverpivotally mounted on the casing and extending between the handle and thecasing, a cutting disk rotatively mounted on the forward end of thelever, said disk being movable with the lever in and out of operativejuxtaposition with said wheel, said lever being pivoted on the casing ata point below the axis of said disk, mounted to move with said lever aleaf spring member extending forwardly of the cutting disk, a downwardlydirected extension from said member, the lower end of the extensionhaving a bifurcated portion for straddling the forward end of the leverand locking said portion in an operative position in which said lowerend bears on the forward face of the cutting disk to hold the cuttingdisk on the shaft, and said spring member being pivotally mounted toswing the extension from its operative position out of line with thecutting disk, whereby the cutting disk may be removed for cleaning.

6. A powered can opener comprising a motor having a casing and arotating shaft extending therefrom, a toothed wheel on said shaftdisposed forwardly of the casing for engagement under the lip of thecan, a handle on the casing for manually supporting the casing, a leverpiv- 6 otally mounted on the casing and extending between the handle andthe casing, a cutting disk rotatively mounted on the forward end of thelever, said disk being movable with the lever in and out of operativejuxtaposition with said wheel, said lever being pivoted on the casing ata point below the axis of said disk and having a portion of reduceddiameter at its forward end, mounted to move with said lever a leafspring member extending forwardly of the cutting disk, a magnet carriedby the spring member for engaging and lifting the top of the can, adownwardly directed extension from said member, the lower end of theextension having a bifurcated portion for straddling the forward end ofthe lever and locking said portion in an operative position in whichsaid lower end bears on the forward face of the cutting disk to hold thecutting disk on the shaft, and said spring member being pivotallymounted to swing the extension from its operative position out of linewith the cutting disk, whereby the cutting disk may be removed forcleaning.

ADELBERT B. REED.

REFERENCES CITED UNITED STATES PATENTS Name Date Powers Dec. 9, 1941Number

